Toyota Unveils Two New Robots

Toyota Unveils Two New Robots

Toyota has unveiled today two new robots today, a “Mobility Robot” and a “Violin-playing Robot” - both developed to support people’s everyday life.
Mobility RobotMain use:Assistance with short-distance personal transport.
Description:Can negotiate steps with independent vertical movement of left and right wheels, allowing it to assist in short-distance personal mobility.
Features:- Has a traveling range of 20km on one hour of battery charge.- Travels at up to 6km/h and capable of traversing a 10-degree gradient.- Capable of following a person, allowing it to function as a porter.- Capable of avoiding obstacles to reach its owner and of autonomously transporting its owner.
Violin-playing RobotMain use:Assistance with domestic duties and nursing and medical care.
Description:Easy-to-become-familiar-with bipedal robot, capable of performing a variety of tasks with its hands and arms.
Features:- Able to achieve dexterous, human-like hand movement and arm strength when playing the violin.- Able to achieve vibrato on a violin similar to that created by humans.
Here’s a video of the two robots in action:

W380i

W380i

August 2005 is an important date in many consumers’ lives; it was the date when the first walkman phones went on sale. Since then over 45 million walkman phones have been shipped.

The walkman phone is a phone which combines more storage, better battery life and different accessories. However, Sony Ericsson have now realised that the consumer expects more; more music, more ways of playing the music and more ways to share music. With this in mind, they launched two new walkman phones.
The Sony W380 is the successor to the W300 and comes in a clamshell design. Aimed at the youth market, it comes complete with many unique and original features such as gesture control, which mutes calls or silences the alarm with a wave of your hand. It also has the walkman controls on top of the phone, so that you can easily manage your music. The slogan for this handset is ‘ hear, see and feel music’ which is accurate, as the handset comes with a media manager, that means you can easily share and transfer music, photos and videos between your computer and phone. The W380 comes with TrackID, PlayNow, FM Radio, 512MB memory stick, Bluetooth, MegaBass, 1.3MP Camera with 4x digital zoom, RSS reader, Web, GSM, GPRS, EDGE and comes in Electric Purple, Magnetic Grey and Champagne Black.

MD300 USB Modem

MD300 USB Modem

Sony Ericsson also launched their first USB Mobile Broadband Modem. It has quad band EDGE and tri band HSDPA. It can operate on Mac-OS X and Windows 2000, XP and Vista. It also has a 128MB internal memory for storing files on it. It has Sony Ericsson wireless manager on it and comes with auto-installation and auto-configuration making it quick and easy to get up and running.

Sony Ericsson New gadget 2008

Sony Ericsson New gadget 2008

by Admin Last night I had the privilege of being invited to the launch of the newest Sony Ericsson products, due to be released within the first few months of 2008. These products most definitely fit in with Sony Ericssons favourite words; discovery, innovation, enrich and enable and certainly go a long way to contributing to their aspiration of being in the top 3 manufacturers list.
Sony Ericsson are very focused on the web, and how the web has changed the way in which we work and play. The web has now become a way of life to many consumers, and with this in mind they are launching new web based phone and a new PC communications device.
The K660i
Aimed at the youth market, the Sony Ericsson K660i is designed for using the web, with HSDPA. It also comes with four 1-touch illuminated shortcuts for web browsing. You can view the web in landscape or portrait and the central navigation key becomes they mouse when in web mode. Sony have also for the first time on a generic Sony Ericsson handset enabled Google maps. It comes in two colours, Lime on White and Wine on Black. It comes enabled with instant messaging, RSS feed reader and desktop, Email Client, 2MP camera with 4x digital zoom, Bluetooth, and a music player complete with FM Radio, TrackID, PlayNow and MegaBass.

Furry lobster

Furry lobster

Marine biologists have discovered a crustacean in the South Pacific that resembles a hairy lobster. The team found the animal last year in waters 2,300m (7,540ft) deep at a site 1,500km (900 miles) south of Easter Island, an expert has claimed. Its name was inspired by “Kiwa”, the goddess of shellfish in native Polynesian culture and “hirsute” which means hairy. The blind creature has pincers covered in hairy strands and has “the vestige of a membrane” instead of eyes, Segonzac told the Associated Press.

Legless lizard

Legless lizard

This recent discovery was made in the Khandadhar region, eastern India. Sushil Kumar Dutta, leader of a team of researchers from NGO Vasundhra, found the 7-inch long creature in the forest, 625 miles southeast of New Delhi. Legless lizards are a large family of snake-like lizards, compared to the solid-toothed, harmless snakes. Preliminary scientific study reveals that the lizard belongs to the genus Sepsophis.

Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin

This animal was discovered in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, scientists even suggesting that life on Earth started here. This new species was even listed on eBay, for auction. A recent study showed that these tiny invertebrates cal live to be 100 years old, and some may reach 200 years, making them one of the oldest animals on Earth.

Walking shark

Walking shark

The fascinating marine biodiversity of the Bird’s Head Seascape on the northwestern end of Indonesia’s Papua province is home to 50 new marine species, including the new epaulette shark (Hemiscyillum freycineti). In addition to the two types of walking epaulette sharks, the researchers discovered 22 species of other fish, 20 species of hard corals, and 8 kinds of shrimp all believed new to science. However, the underwater world is under severe threat from over-fishing with dynamite and cyanide, as well as deforestation and mining that degrade coastal waters.

Tree Kangaroos

Tree Kangaroos
The golden-mantled tree kangaroo was discovered in December 2005 by a team of Indonesian, Australian, and U.S. scientists, in the Foya Mountains, in the Papua proivince. Currently, ten species are recognized in the group, nearly all of which are threatened by habitat loss or hunting. The golden-mantled tree kangaroo is considered as one of the most endangered of all tree-kangaroos, being extinct in most of its original range.

Granrojo

Marine biologists at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered 23 of what they call Big Reds in Monterey Bay and the Sea of Cortez and off Hawaii, Japan and the Farallon Islands near San Francisco. Granrojo or big red, Tiburonia granrojo, is a recently discovered jellyfish of the family Ulmaridae, the only member of its genus yet identified. Scientists named the new genus “Tiburonia” after the aquarium’s research vessel Tiburon, and the species “granrojo,” Spanish for big red.

TopGuideTravel.com

unidentified "octosquid"

unidentified "octosquid"

An unidentified sea creature, termed an "octosquid,"

was found last week off Keahole Point on the Big Island.

Curious creature caught off Keahole PointThe animal, dubbed an "octosquid," is found off the Big

It's a squid, it's an octopus, it's ... a mystery from the deep.
What appears to be a half-squid, half-octopus specimen found off Keahole Point on the Big Island remains unidentified today and could possibly be a new species, said local biologists.
The specimen was found caught in a filter in one of Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority's deep-sea water pipelines last week. The pipeline, which runs 3,000 feet deep, sucks up cold, deep-sea water for the tenants of the natural energy lab.
"When we first saw it, I was really delighted because it was new and alive," said Jan War, operations manager at NELHA. "I've never seen anything like that."
The natural energy lab is a state agency that operates Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park in Kailua-Kona, adjacent to one of the steepest offshore slopes in the Hawaiian Islands.
According to Richard Young, an oceanography professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the specimen tentatively belongs to the genus Mastigoteuthis, but the species is undetermined.
War, who termed the specimen "octosquid" for the way it looked, said it was about a foot long, with white suction cups, eight tentacles and an octopus head with a squidlike mantle.
The octosquid was pulled to the surface, along with three rattail fish and half a dozen satellite jellyfish, and stayed alive for three days. According to War, the lab usually checks its filters once a month, but this time, it put a plankton net in one of the filters and checked it two weeks later.
The pitch-black conditions at 3,000 feet below sea level are unfamiliar to most but riveting to scientists who have had the opportunity to submerge. The sea floor is full of loose sediment, big boulders and rocks, and a lot of mucuslike things floating in the water, which are usually specimens that died at the surface and drifted to the bottom.
"It's quite fascinating," War said. "When you get below 700 feet, it's a totally different world. Lots of fish have heads like a fish and a body like an eel. There are fish floating in a vertical position, with the head up, and don't move unless they're disturbed."
Christopher Kelley, program biologist for the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, went to the natural energy lab Tuesday to pick up the preserved octosquid, rattail fish and jellyfish, which had been stored in a freezer, and brought them back to UH-Manoa's oceanography department.
"It's a beautiful squid. It's a gorgeous ruby red color," Kelley said. "We really enjoy these little mysteries that come up."
Also during Kelley's visit to NELHA yesterday, he and War talked about a more formal sampling program to search for other deep-sea critters. War said their goal is to sample the intake screen more often and capture animals alive and study them in captivity.
"This opens up a whole new area of research that UH can be involved with," War said.
In October, NELHA will be checking its deep-sea pipelines, something that usually happens every eight to 10 years, because it is worried that something might have happened to them during the earthquakes in October.
"If it's a new species, (NELHA) would like to name it," War said. "But that is sort of the honor of whoever classifies it."

TopGuideTravel.com

Excalibur - The legend

Excalibur - The legend

A while ago, I was thinking of why this sword was so famous. In fact, Many people talk about the popular story of the sword on the stone. Years ago I had read the story of it, but I had never realized the sword mention in the story was non other then the sword Excalibur. So I’ve decided to check it out the legend behind.

Here is some info of the legend of the story

Sword in the Stone (the proof of Arthur’s lineage) In surviving accounts of Arthur, there are two originally separate legends about the sword’s origin. The first is the “Sword in the Stone” legend, originally appearing in Robert de Boron’s poem Merlin, in which Excalibur
can only be drawn from the stone by Arthur, the rightful king. The second comes from the later Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin, which was taken up by Sir Thomas Malory. Here, Arthur receives Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake after breaking his first sword in a fight with King Pellinore. The Lady of the Lake calls the sword “Excalibur, that is as to say as Cut-steel,” and Arthur takes it from a hand rising out of the lake.

As Arthur lies dying, he tells Sir Bedivere (Sir Griflet in some versions) to return his sword to the lake by throwing it into the water. Bedivere is reluctant to throw away such a precious sword, so twice he only pretends to do so. Each time, Arthur asks him to describe what he saw. When Bedivere tells him the sword simply fell into the water, Arthur scolds him harshly. Finally, Bedivere throws Excalibur into the lake. Before the sword strikes the water’s surface, a hand reaches up to grasp it and pulls it under.

Arthur leaves on a death barge with the three queens to Avalon, where as his legend says, he will one day return to rule in Britain’s darkest hour.

Malory records both versions of the legend in his Le Morte d’Arthur, and confusingly calls both swords Excalibur.

The film Excalibur attempts to rectify this by having only one sword, which Arthur inherits through his father and later breaks; the Lady of the Lake then repairs it.

Other information

The story of the Sword in the Stone has an analogue in some versions of the story of Sigurd (the Norse proto-Siegfried), who draws his father Sigmund’s sword out of a tree where it is embedded.

In several early French works such as Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail and the Vulgate Lancelot Proper section, Excalibur is used by Gawain, Arthur’s nephew and one of his best knights. This is in contrast to later versions, where Excalibur belongs solely to the king. In the Alliterative Morte Arthure, Arthur is said to have two legendary swords, the second one being Clarent, stolen by the evil Mordred. Arthur receives his fatal blow from Clarent.

Elephant paints amazing self portrait!

Elephant paints amazing self portrait!

An elephant paints an incredible self-portrait, not only demonstrating its ability to recall images but also
the ability to discern three dimensional space!!!

FLO Rida feat. T.Pain Music from the Movie Step Up 2 'Low'

FLO Rida feat. T.Pain Music from the Movie Step Up 2
caught up with Flo Rida at the BET Rip The Runway, check out this music from the movie Step Up 2, featuring dancers from the original motion picture We caught up with Flo Rida at the BET Rip The Runway, check out this music from the movie Step Up 2, featuring dancers from the original motion picture Step Up 2.

Rihanna "Don't Stop The Music" video - Short-e.tv

Rihanna "Don't Stop The Music" video - Short-e. com

Rihanna "Don't Stop The Music" music video!...Rihanna Please Don't Stop The Music Video Short-e.tv

solve Sydney mystery

Lifeboat pictures *solve Sydney mystery*
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Without doubt the most chilling find in the debris field was the presence of five of Sydney’s life boats.Photo: The Finding Sydney FoundationDylan WelchApril 7, 2008 - 11:26AM

A new photo of the wreck of HMAS Sydney might have solved the mystery of whether some of the crew attempted a last-ditch escape as the ship sank.
The entire crew were thought to have gone down with the ship in November 1941 after a battle with the German raider Kormoran.

But initial photos showed all of the ship's lifeboats were missing from their cradles, raising questions as to whether crew tried to flee in the boats as the ship sank.
But a photo released today seems to answer that question, with five lifeboats found resting on the ocean near the wreck of the Sydney.

"That means that people didn't get away," Tom Frame, the author of HMAS Sydney: Loss And Controversy, said.

Last week Professor Frame said questions remained about the lifeboats.
"There is still a real element of mystery as to why the amount of damage we are seeing in these pictures prevented the crew from getting off," he said on Friday.

"It doesn't seem from what we have seen that the ship sank suddenly. It doesn't have the cataclysmic damage to explain why no one got away."

The account of the tragedy given by German sailors aboard the Kormoran states the boat stayed afloat for at east six hours before sinking.

That would have been long enough for the crew to attempt an escape mission, Professor Frame said.

But today's photo appears to have dispelled that notion and, when informed of the discovery, Professor Frame said it left few questions.

"The previous assumption was that if the lifeboats weren't in the area then some people may have gotten away. But if [the lifeboats are] in the area then they sank and came loose and went down separately."

The only question remaining now was whether the lifeboats themselves had suffered any damage, and whether that had rendered them useless.

"They may have tried to deploy them and they didn t work," he said.

Apple TV coming to a living room near you

Macworld: Apple TV coming to a living room near you
By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 03:05 PM EST Apple on Tuesday premiered Apple TV -- its official name for iTV

an easy to use device for the wireless playback of iTunes content on big-screen living room television sets.
Using Apple TV's Mac OS X-based software interface, users can quickly browse and view their entire collection of digital media from across the room using the Apple Remote.
Apple said the new set-top media hub will easily connect to almost all modern widescreen televisions, and will be shipping in February for $299.
"Apple TV is like a DVD player for the 21st century -- you connect it to your entertainment system just like a DVD player, but it plays digital content you get from the Internet rather than DVDs you get from a physical store," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "Apple TV plays the same iTunes content that users enjoy on their computers and iPods, so now they can even watch part of a movie in their living room, and watch the rest later on their iPod."
Apple TV will ship with a 40GB hard drive to store up to 50 hours of video, 9,000 songs, 25,000 photos or a combination of each and is capable of delivering high-definition 720p output.
Apple said the device is easy to connect to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports.
Using high-speed AirPort 802.11 wireless networking, Apple TV will auto-sync content from one computer or stream content from up to five additional computers right to a users' TV without any wires.
The seamless integration of Apple TV and iTunes lets users choose from over 250 feature-length movies and 350 TV shows in near DVD quality; four million songs, 5,000 music videos, 100,000 podcasts and 20,000 audiobooks.
Users can enjoy their favorite music on a home entertainment system and view slideshows of their photo albums on a widescreen TV simultaneously.
Apple TV also makes it easy for users to explore their entire media collection from up to 30 feet away with an easy to use and intuitive new interface that include the Apple Remote.
Pricing & Availability
Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, will be shipping in February through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $299.
Apple TV requires iTunes 7 or later running on a Mac with Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later, or a Windows PC with Windows XP Home/Professional (SP2). An 802.11b/g/n wireless network using AirPort, AirPort Extreme or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking required. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended. Apple TV requires an enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen TV. iPod games will not play on Apple TV.

Similan and Surin islands dive trip.

Similan and Surin islands dive trip.

At last, I have got around to talking about my Similan and Surin islands dive trip in Oct. I did a four day liveaboard from Kho Lak, thats an hour or two north of Phuket. I went with Sea Dragon and as this is the second trip with them in two years, you can see I like them. They have been there a while, run a good operation at a good price. (Have a look at the Phuket based outfits).
After an evening boarding and departure on their Andaman boat we had a dive before breakfast on the Similan 5, the first dive for 6 months for me. I really enjoy these dives, it gives you such a good appetite! It was a relaxing dive and went well, I was not the lowest on air, always a concern of mine, on my last trip as a 50+ guy diving with 3 young ladies I just could not win! There was an extensive eel garden and over breakfast we all said the same thing, 'what a life, do they ever come right out of their holes, or is that it?' Anyone know?
We had some beach visits, the first day I swam over to a very new resort, set discretely among the trees.
This was new, very low key and well done. I needed a hat having lost my last and it was amusing flattening out and drying the notes, no one minded. Dont seem to matter how many bags you put your money in, it gets wet.
Second dive we see a Manta! Deep and feeding, I saw it materialise from the distance and swim towards us. With its huge slow wing beats it was awesome, quite too your breath away! It moved out a little as flew past us. And we were the only group to see it!!! Envy!!! However later on everyone got an very good look when we were circled by two curious mantas on two dives at Kho Bon, so there were no disappointed people. We moved up the Similans, diving Elephant Rock, less current than last time. This is a pile of house size boulders that you can swim around and under.
On one dive we met a group of oriental divers who were swarming over a big coral outcrop and all digging and probing with stainless steel spikes. The was a lot of mud and debris about them in the water. Several were visibly hanging on to live coral! Anything hiding was going to be killed by the spikes, it was all rather horrifying to us. We tried to move across to the nearest of the group but he sensed our intentions and moved away. Who were they? Who can say, but they were bad news.
Next , going north, was Kho Bon, a limestone island on its own and there we saw the curious mantas. Snorkelling around the southern end of the island is one of the highlights of my last trip and it did not disappoint this time. It is deep quickly, very clear, you swim in surf close to the rocks. Around the western side there are several deep clefts I can just about get down into, very exhilarating. On was full of big blue parrot fish.
Went ashore and saw the turtle breeding pens on the Park HQ on the Surin. Strange little things, hold your had still long enough in the tank and they will try to eat it!
Last day and two dives on Richelieu Rock. No big stuff but lots to see and many interesting things, octopus, one swimming, a big cuttlefish, silver trevellys, it is a brilliant place. Unfortunately we mislaid the sun on the last two days, the monsoon was playing silly buggers and had finished a month early and then tried to come back, but it was no real problem for us. It all went well, diving in small groups means not much of a crowd, four to one DM, the food was excellent though you had to like Thai cuisine to get the best from the trip. This is tasty and warm, but not too hot, you can add all the heat you want with chilli and fish sauce. One thing puzzled me, the boat was the same on top but things on the dive deck were different from what I remembered. Must be getting old I thought and kept quiet. Then I learned that the boat, the Andaman, had a new hull with a bigger dive deck! I felt better then.
Kho Lak had changed in two years, more tourist shops and street lighting now. Last time I had some nervous walks back along the road with my dive light on the back of my legs which I hoped the manic drivers could see, the road being straight and fast. Also, mobiles worked everywhere, last time I was there it was on the beach only or one place in the middle of the road, opposite Sea Dragon, dangerous.
Both the bars are much the same, Tarzan's or Funky Geko, not that you can tell them apart after a while!
-- _J_O_H_N____R_E_L_P_H____________
Teddington, Middlesex in Cold Old England.

Cleopatra and the Pearl Earring

Cleopatra and the Pearl Earring - By: Patrick Cavanaugh

Here is the story: The love between Antony and Cleopatra is a legend. But, that’s only half the story…their love was quite competitive. Both trying to outdo one another.
And that’s just the beginning…this 2,000 year old tale tells of her other love – pearls.According to legend, Antony was smitten by Cleopatra, maybe overwhelmed, maybe possessed. Anyhow, Cleopatra was the one in control of the situation. Antony would do anything to win Cleopatra. Celebrations, extravagant feasts, banquets would he provide during this courtship. Never letting on that any of these celebrations impressed her.
More details in a moment. But first, remember that she had a relationship with Julius Caesar. She had a son, who she claimed came from their union. Julius Caesar refused to make him his heir. Cleopatra lived in Rome until Caesar’s assassination. She then went back to Egypt and promptly had her brother poisoned. He was in her way.
After Caesar’s death Antony ruled one half of Rome. It seems Cleopatra had coveted the Empire since her days with Caesar. She might have been more in love with Rome than with Marc Antony.
In any case, the seductress that she was, loved to ridicule him. She always had the upper hand. Cleopatra would never let on that Antony impressed her. She ridiculed him and made fun of his efforts to win her favor.
One day Cleopatra declared that she could out do Antony. Cleopatra wagered that she would spend 10 times more on her feast, than he ever did. Antony rose to the challenge. He countered her bet. He wagered that she would not be able to win.
Providing Antony with a feast fit for a king, she appeared before him wearing with a fantastic pair of pearl earrings. These pearl earrings were described by Pliny to be "two most precious pearls, the singular and only such jewels in the world, and even Nature's wonder."
Antony was not impressed with this feast, knowing that he had provided many celebrations far in excess of this one. Asking her how much she spent, Cleopatra exclaimed that she had spent over ten millionsesterci (an amount equal to a kings ransome)
To prove herself the winner, Cleopatra removed a pearl from her ear, dissolved it in a chalice of vinegar and toasting his good health, drank it down. A kingly fortune in a single swallow. She began to remove the other pearl; but, the judge of the contest would not allow it. He declared Antony the loser.
Pliny mentions that the remaining pearl was cut in half and made into earrings for the statue of Venus, goddess of Love, in the Pantheon Temple of the gods, in Rome. Immortalizing the bet.

Russian UFOs

Russians catch up in Journalism
by Jim Wright for the Dallas Morning News
of October 15, 1989

That old-time secular religion, Marxism, seems to be going out of
style everywhere except faculty lounges of American colleges. A major
result of this rightist deviationism is that the Russians are at last
getting to enjoy some of the blessings of a free press. Such as, for
instance, the recent news stories about aliens and monsters from outer
space landing in Voronezh.

It is without any doubt a refreshing change for those folks, who have
more than enough trouble during this century from monsters grown
locally.

Presumably, it is Halloween season in Russia, too, and there could
hardly be a more appropriate way to celebrate it in the age of
Glasnost than with an intergalactic trick-or-treat right there in
person (or whatever) on Soviet soil.

What's more, there is always a chance that tourism will benefit from
the new Soviet policy of letting it all hang out, so far as creature
sightings are concerned. There are large numbers of people in every
land who badly waant to believe in this sort of thing, as the American
echoes of the latest space-beachhead landing indicate. People who
enjoy thinking about little green beings who fly around in glowing
disks probably could be talked into spending their vacations in
Voronezh. And Mother Russia can use the hard currency.

That being so, it hardly matters that the eyewitnesses turn out to be
children. No doubt the Russians have noticed that Scotland, another
country that can use hard currency (or soft or in-between), has done
very well with the Loch Ness monster. And Nessie usually is sighted
from the window of one of the nearby public houses. Those who want to
believe will believe.

Personally, as one of the global journalism fraternity, I am proud to
see that my brothers and sisters at Tass, the Soviet news service,
have taken a throroughly professional attitude toward all the hoots
and jeers at their dispateches about the latest historic event. Not
only are they standing by the story, but they have found a policeman,
Lt. Sergei A. Matveyev, to corroborate the kids' story.

This is in keeping with standard operating procedures used in the free
press everywhere. The lieutenant said he was a little bit wary of the
story himself when he first got word of the landing. And no, he
didn't get there in time to see the actual aliens themselves, but, by
Trotsky, he did see their vehicle and "it was certainly a body flying
in the sky."

Police officers do have a reputation for being skeptical about
citizens who tell stories that depend upon extraterrestrial
intervention to explain their - the citizens' - behavior. That may be
why the lawmen are so popular as corroborating witnesses for UFO
journalism. Cops have excellent credibility, spacewise.

I'll bet Lt. Matveyev is really sorry he missed seeing the actual
space critters themselves; I know I am.

According to the kids, the UFO was a glowing ball "of deep red."
Naturally, it disgorged a nine-foot, metallic-looking "humanoid," who
checked out the scene, then went back to get a friend and their robot.
Whereupon all three promenaded in the park, did some high-tech tricks,
reboarded and left.

I think, though, before I book seats on the next Voronezh UFO Site
All-in-One-Tour, I will have to have some additional information.
Such as, for instance, how late the three kids were for supper at the
moment they spotted the red space ship arriving and were unavoidably
detained by the nine-foot humanoid.

Chamber of Commerce mad at me. But until I get more evidence, I
intend to be guided by the logic of a salty Pfc. I once knew. Our
outfit, rummaging through the Mojave desert in a truck convoy, passed
a luxurious compound, built around a strange, truncated pyramid of
sand. On being told that this was s settlement of wealthy UFO
worshipers and that the pyramid was designed as the landing pad for
the creatures' ship, the Pfc. just snorted.

"Anything smart enough to build a spaceship," he observed, "is too
smart to pitch a liberty in this dump."

In spite of the Soviets' amazingly rapid progress in gee-whiz
communications, I feel that America's lead in this area is safe, at
least for now. Only yesterday, as I waited to check out at the
supermarket, the headline story in one of our state-of-the-art
publications informed me that:

"MAN EXPLODES AFTER EATING FIVE PIZZAS!"

I'd like to see those Russkies top that, if they can.

Ghost clip

The garage where it all began

The garage where it all began

The stark interior has been restored to how it looked 70 years ago
By Maggie Shiels BBC News, San Francisco

Silicon Valley is pitted with sites of pilgrimage for geeks but, for many, the lovingly restored garage at 367 Addison Avenue in Palo Alto is a draw like no other.
In some senses this unassuming suburban street in Northern California can be considered the birthplace of the world's first hi-tech region. It is where the founders of Hewlett Packard got started.
The restoration effort means that the 12ft by 8ft wooden structure is pretty much as it was during Bill and Dave's time - that's Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard for the uninitiated.
A single lightbulb hangs from the ceiling, a copy of the original drill press they used for 20 years bulks along one side and a lingering musty oil smell evokes a lost era when hardware was bought by the yard.
Every year more than 40,000 people pay homage at this humble location but the nearest they get is the iron gate at the end of the drive.
The BBC won a rare guided tour around the fabled garage and home and where Bill and Dave started the company that bears their name to this day and must have exceeded their ambitions for how big it would grow.

The early years
It all started in 1938 when the pair, along with Dave's wife Lucile rented Addison Avenue for $45 a month.
For that they got a ground floor apartment for Dave and Lucile, a garden shed where bachelor Bill bunked and most crucially a garage where the two men could get their own business up and running.

In pictures: Silicon Valley's birthplace
With just $538 they set about making their mark. Their first product was an oscillator to test sound equipment. Even then, says HP archivist Anna Mancini, the two men were aware that perception was all.
"The first model was called the 200a and they wanted people to think they were bigger than they were. They didn't want to call it 'Model One'," She says. "Their marketing was pretty primitive also. Even on a copy of HP's first advert it gives the address as 367 Addison and says call Department A for information."
There was no Department A, B or even C; just Bill, Dave and Lucile.
What helped fuel their early success was that they undercut the competition. Says Ms Mancini: "They were able to sell this at $71.50 and still make a profit while other manufacturers were charging $500."
An original oscillator on loan from a museum occupies pride of place on the living room mantlepiece in the house at 367 Addison Avenue .
History lesson
The whole property cost HP $1.7 million to acquire in 2000. The painstaking restoration has taken five years and the house is now a recreation of how Dave and Lucile lived. There's a heavy dining table where Lucile did the books, a "Murphy" pull down bed where the two slept, and in the kitchen an exact copy of the stove she cooked on.
"This is the same kind of oven they used to bake the paint on the panels for the oscillators," says Ms Mancini. "The story is that Lucile said the roast beef never tasted the same again."
Out back is the main draw for everyone regardless of what side of the iron gate you stand.
An iron gate keeps sightseers away from the hallowed garage
Going inside feels like stepping back in time. There are bits of machinery, wood handled tools and coffee and tobacco tins filled with nuts and bolts lying around. There's a copy of the company's first tangible asset - the drill press. It's not the original but a copy bought on eBay for $79.
"We were very lucky the garage was perfectly preserved. No one ever put in an electric door or tore it down," says Ms Mancini. "This is pretty much what it looked like when Bill and Dave were here."
Bachelor Bill
Close by the garage is Bill's former home. A converted garden shed with a bunk bed, a table strewn with drawings and tools, a sink and a checked shirt hanging on a nail.
While the lack of luxury would not be for everyone, Ms Mancini says it was perfect for Bill.
"People who knew Hewlett said this would have been fine for him. He was an outdoors man. He grew up camping and didn't care much about his surroundings."
In a sense Bill and Dave did more than just kick off the Valley's mania for electronics, they gave birth to the ethic that infuses the entire region.
And if there is a lesson for the rest of the Valley at Addison Avenue, if there is something that draws those thousands every year, then it lies in that fact. That the work is the most important thing, that all it takes is dedication, dreams and perhaps a garage.
And pretty much everybody has those.

King of Pop to Appear at WMAs - Michael Jackson

King of Pop to Appear at WMAs


King of Pop to Appear at WMAs by: chris nelson
LONDON - Michael Jackson is set to make a rare public appearance at the World Music Awards in London next month, organizers recently announced.
Having sold more than 100 million albums, the forlorn king of pop will receive a Diamond Award at the industry ceremony.
WMA founder Melissa Corken said “We are thrilled to be bringing the World Music Awards to London, the music capital of the world," quickly adding "the presence of Michael Jackson is very exciting for us."
Jackson went into reclusion after his acquittal from child molestation charges in June of last year. He left the United States soon after and has spent time in Bahrain and Ireland.
The World Music Awards were held in Monaco for 15 years before moving to the United States in 2004 and 2005. This year's event at London's Earls Court Arena is to be hosted by Lindsay Lohan, with performances from Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Katie Melua and Andrea Bocelli.
Previous recipients of the Diamond Award include Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.
The World Music Awards was founded in 1989 as an international awards show that annually honors recording artists based on their popularity, and worldwide sales figures, which are provided by the various organizations including record companies and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
The awards show is conducted under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert of Monaco, Monte Carlo. Until 2003 the show was conducted in Monte Carlo.
The 2004 show was held in Las Vegas (USA) on September 15. The 2005 show was held at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, California with simultaneous broadcasts to North and South America, Australia, Japan and South East Asia, all of mainland China, New Zealand, all of Africa and the Middle East, and all of Europe, reaching an estimated worldwide audience of one billion viewers, in over 160 countries.
John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show.
Proceeds from the show go to the Monaco Aide and Presence Foundation, which assist underdeveloped areas mainly in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Brazil.
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) televised the show in the US on September 13, 2005 with featured appearances by many American and Latino pp stars such as Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas, Michelle Branch, Stevie Wonder, Kid Rock, Eminem, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.
Last year’s show also featured Patti LaBelle, Kid Rock, and Stevie Wonder performing songs dedicated to honoring the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Based on the WMA website, "The World's best-selling recording-artists in the various categories are determined after a thorough research conducted by the organization on record certifications and record company sales figures"
The national member associations of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organization that provides the World music organization with the names of their overall best-selling artists and groups.
Each year, the WMS awards the best selling artist from each major country.
Legend Awards are given to artists "in recognition of their global success and outstanding contribution to the music industry". Past winners include Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Modern Talking, Ace of Base, Diana Ross, Julio Iglesias, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Cher, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Whitney Houston, Prince, Janet Jackson, Carlos Santana and Rock Bond Scorpions.
The Chopard Diamond World Music Award is a new award, given to artists who have sold over 100 million albums over the course of their careers. Past winners are Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Bon Jovi.
Apart from the world's best-selling artists in the various categories and the national best-selling artists, special millennium awards for the world’s best selling recording artist of all time were presented in 2000 to Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey in the male and female categories respectively.
To date, Mariah Carey has received 16 World Music Awards, the most WMAs for any recording artist, followed closely by Michael Jackson with 14 awards.

Buying A Car: 5 Ways To Save Money

Buying A Car: 5 Ways To Save Money by: Michael Lewis

Buying a car is an expensive thing. But, does it have to be? There are a number of things that you can do to get the car that you want for much less. Simple and a bit more complex, these tips will help you to save money in the long run. Buying a car can be affordable.
Here are five tips for saving money on your next car purchase.
1.Get your financing in order before you leave to look at cars. While many car dealerships are offering financing for vehicles, this can be one of the more costly options. Make sure you talk to online financing companies, your local bank and your credit union. You probably will save a good amount of money here.
2.Do the down payment. Even a bit of a down payment can help you to save considerably down the road. You can save a good deal of money if you invest wisely. But, adding a bit of a down payment to the purchase will help to lower the amount of principal that you actually owe on that vehicle purchase.
3.If your credit is bad, get a co signer. Having someone else that can help you to get your car is a great way to secure a vehicle for a more affordable price. This helps to lower the amount of risk that you present to the car financer. The lower the amount of risk you prove to be, the better your chances of paying less for that car.
4.Trade-ins are good too. If you have a car that you plan to trade in, you may be able to get a good price for it. To improve the amount you get, make sure that the car is as clean as possible, is running well and has been taken care of. In addition to this, make sure that you know the value of it by looking it up on the web. Know what its worth so you do not get taken. The value of the trade in will lower the amount you have to have financed on your vehicle.
5.Shop around and haggle. There is no shame in saving money. Dealers are selling cars to make a commission. How much will they make off of you? Do your homework out the type of car you are looking for and know its worth. Look at several dealerships to find the right car at the right price. Don't forget to haggle with the dealership salesmen. But, whatever you do, do not be insulting to them. That's the wrong way to get your price down.
Take these five ways to save on the next time you buy a car and you will walk way with the benefits that you deserve. You can save a good amount of financing and interest charges this way.

Animations & movie

AnimationsBy: Shakir.A

When graphics are changed sequentially and run one after another in a certain frame, we can see the motion of the graphics. This is called animation. Flip book is a simple example of animation. The graphics or images may be 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. In fact, it is phenomenon of persistence of vision makes an optical illusion of motion.
Animation is a sequential pictorial expression of a concept or story that may or may not need language. It is a cross-cultural platform, where any concept can be displayed by characters. Animators and creators are such people can develop animation on any concept. Nowadays computer and software help a lot to animators or graphics designers to create varieties of animations in website stuff, games, cartoon movies and commercial applications.
Type of AnimationsAnimations are 4 types with different method of creations are 1) Character animation that makes illusion of life in an image character, 2) Chuckimation that is created by cartoon makers in which characters are thrown or chucked from off camera to make illusion of motion, 3) Multi-sketch is an animation tells story illustrating a sequence of sketches 4) Special effects are animations are unreal, used in the film and television make attractive fictions.
2D Animation Graphics are created on the paper or computer screen using 2D bitmap or 2D vector graphics. These are automated computerized versions of traditional animation techniques such as of twining, morphing, blurring and interpolated. The GUI operating systems improved such technique of 2D animations a lot. Some software tools can bes used for making 2D animations are Macromedia Flash, PowerPoint etc.
3D AnimationCharacters, shapes and objects can be created in the computer using polygons. Three dimensional representations of geometric data is stored in the computer to perform calculations and rendering 2D images and 3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms as 2 D vector graphics. To give a movement for the object, a digital armature is applied that process is called rigging. Some examples of 3D animations are Skeletal animation, Walk through Motion and 3D cartoon shows.
Use of Animation moviesIn digital screen animation has brought many imaginary characters with stories live. The excellent example is Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry of Disney land. The animation industry is popular and attractive many professionals to create unlimited creations. Animations are commonly used, mobile phone, Entertainment like Movies and Television industries, Business like Product Promotions and Marketing Demos, Sales Presentations, Education and tutorial CBTs and WBTs, Publishing (Graphics & Printing), Tourism like Kiosks, Web Design, Virtual Reality for Simulations in Defense, Engineering Advertising in electronic or print media, Fashion Design and Interiors design. A interested person can make career such as Visualizers, Ink and Paint Artists, Special Effects Persons, Character Animators and Modeling Artists.
AniBoom is in focus of promoting animation world wide through Internet. Providing information, conducting contests and show Animation tries for dragging lot of talents and people into the world of animations.super star,billboard chart,Uk chart